Gun Standoffs in Movies
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Jim Raynor
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Gun Standoffs in Movies
One of the frequently used cliches in action movies is when two opposing characters end up at point blank range, each with a handgun pointed at the other's face. I have often wondered why one of the characters didn't just pull the trigger first, instantly killing their opponent. At that range, can a human being even react fast enough to shoot back? Or is it a fear that the other guy's fingers will involuntarily pull the trigger as he dies? Can anybody with knowledge of real guns and gunfighting answer these questions?
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LadyTevar
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LadyTevar
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Crap.. I knew I forgot something. I can't believe I forget the ALL CAPSBeowulf wrote:It's not like that... it'sLadyTevar wrote:Death wrote:Ahh. Drama.Death wrote:AHH. DRAMA.
Me: Nope, that's why I have you around to tell me.
Nitram: You -are- beautiful. Anyone tries to tell you otherwise kill them.
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General Zod
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not necessarily. when the body dies due to sudden trauma the limbs are likely to undergo rigor and grip something extremely tight. given that his fingers would most likely be on the trigger, chances are likely that he'd pull that the moment he got killed.j1j2j3 wrote:Well, so does pulling the trigger first allow you to kill your enemy and not have him squeeze the trigger before he dies?
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CmdrWilkens
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To expand a bit on what was said earlier: Most people don't die INSTANTLY. All things aside in the instants it takes for the bullet to hit and enter your body the brain is already (probably) sending the signal to pull the trigger. Since, in most cases, they are pointing at faces or chests you can' even rely on the idea that you'll blow out the guys brains before the thought can form. So the simple answer is that in situations like that with that much adrenaline in the system reations qill be so much more immediate that you aren't going to be able to kill them before they pull the trigger, simple as that.
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Movie quick draw standoffs are complete bullshit. Accurate shooting is simply not possibul that way without extensive rehearsal for a specific shot, and even then it's very hard. The concept of the quick draw, pulling out your gun real fast in a rehearsed manner, has applications. But firing as part of that draw is just stupid.
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Bob the Gunslinger
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Re: Gun Standoffs in Movies
Because John Woo told them not to shoot. After all, this is the best possible position for a ruthless yet caring killer and a determined cop to have a heart-to-heart rap session.Jim Raynor wrote:One of the frequently used cliches in action movies is when two opposing characters end up at point blank range, each with a handgun pointed at the other's face. I have often wondered why one of the characters didn't just pull the trigger first, instantly killing their opponent. At that range, can a human being even react fast enough to shoot back? Or is it a fear that the other guy's fingers will involuntarily pull the trigger as he dies? Can anybody with knowledge of real guns and gunfighting answer these questions?
"Gunslinger indeed. Quick draw, Bob. Quick draw." --Count Chocula
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"Unquestionably, Dr. Who is MUCH lighter in tone than WH40K. But then, I could argue the entirety of WWII was much lighter in tone than WH40K." --Broomstick
"This is ridiculous. I look like the Games Workshop version of a Jedi Knight." --Harry Dresden, Changes
"Like...are we canonical?" --Aaron Dembski-Bowden to Dan Abnett